Even if Zhou Heng saw the place he entered as a circus, it wasn't because it was filled with laughs and colorful tents.
The 'Circus', was more like a center of eccentricities, a medium-sized square with many things around and a bunch of bizarre people, there were colorful tents, but they had dirt all over.
He could see a muscular, yet obese man with weights in his hands, flirting with an obese woman in a ballerina costume, he could see a thin man without an arm sharpening a knife using his legs to support the stone.
There were a pair of adult twins with child-sized bodies laughing and fighting with wood sticks. He could even see the group of children he followed earlier talking with a red-haired middle age woman that had heavy make-up on her face.
''Yeah, this place has seen better times... But, hey! The important part is the spirit of its inhabitants.'' The tall man that was leading Zhou Heng said with a smile.
Zhou Heng's lips twitched a little, the spirit of those people should be the jars of alcohol on the waist of almost everyone in this place.
''Why a circus?'' Zhou Heng asked.
''Well, why not? The place was spacious, the building materials expensive, and don't look down on these tents, they are very sturdy!'' The tall man laughed a little.
Zhou Heng could see that they were walking in the direction of a medium-sized tent on one side of the square, part of the tent was covering the wall of a building.
He was still wondering why a circus was in the middle of a city when he saw something in the distance. four men were carrying a big box toward the biggest tent in the square, it didn't look like a grand scenery, but more like a warehouse.
''Oh!, looks like you're lucky, the small boss is here, let's say hello, it's always good to be polite.'' The tall man smiled widely and adjusted his clothes and his non-existent tie.
Before entering the tent, Zhou Heng saw that the man that was following them before already left and was walking toward the red-haired woman.
On the way, some of the people around only glanced at him a bit to lose interest almost instantly, but the red-haired woman was looking at him with a smile and raised eyebrows.
Zhou Heng ignored her and followed the tall man inside the tent, looking at the inside of the tent, ten people were sitting around a few tables, it seems that he arrived when they were on breakfast because all of them were eating.
At the end of the tent was the wall of the building, but he saw a stair that went down like a basement with a door at the end, it looked as if the motive of this tent was to hide that stair.
''Hey, little boss whatcha' doing?'' The tall man with a smile approached a man that certainly didn't feel like a 'little boss' he was past the two meters tall, with thick limbs that seemed bigger than Zhou Heng's full-body, bald, with a tattoo on the neck, and if that didn't make him look dangerous, he was eating using a knife to pick the meat of his plate.
Every time the food entered his mouth he closed his teeth, biting the knife and making the noise of metal grinding with his teeth.
Zhou Heng frowned at the sound, it wasn't pleasant, his body stiffened with creeps.
'Little' boss had an indifferent face, he looked at the tall man when he heard his question, looked at Zhou Heng for a second, and continued eating. ''What's wrong?''
''Well, when I was working hard in Marcus bar I saw the kids doing kids' things and this little courageous boy following them. After scari... greeting him he told me that he wanted to improve himself, work hard for our community and join us!'' The tall man took a chair from the side and sat at one side of 'little' boss.
'Little' boss frowned and while chewing he looked at Zhou Heng and said, ''Just put him with the others, why so troublesome.''
''Well, bossy this guy is a jewel, he is truly a catch, he has guts, looks a bit smarter than when I was his age, and even came with a revenge plot with him, isn't interesting'' The tall man smiled with narrow eyes and said quietly as if telling secrets.
Clearly, the tall man just found the situation interesting and decided to kill time using Zhou Heng. The 'little' boss was accustomed to his way of doing things so he ignored him, he took the knife and without hesitation or alert, he threw it toward Zhou Heng.
Zhou Heng didn't have time to react, after seeing the action he instinctively raised his arms to defend himself, protecting his face and chest. Without closing his eyes he warily looked at the 'little' boss.
But after a moment he saw that the knife wasn't aimed at him, looking back, he saw the knife in the cloth of the tent, hanging from it.
''Bring it to me.'' 'Little' boss said, with an eyebrow raised, he was impressed by the fact that while surprised, Zhou Heng didn't look as scared as he thought he would be.
He intended to scare him away as he thought that the kid was just like others, but it seems that he did have a bit of backbone.
Zhou Heng breathed deeply, went to grab the knife, walked to the 'little' boss's side, and gave it to him. Inwardly he was cursing, why does it seems like the man needed to scare everyone, does he need to eat and give creeps? Coupled with his looks, Zhou Heng felt that this 'little' boss was giving his best to appear dangerous.
'Little' boss whose name was Bern, took the knife, put it on the table, and without breaking eye contact with the blue-haired boy, asked, ''What do you want from us?''
Zhou Heng also without blinking answered, ''I want to learn from your group, I need strength and skills.''
He needed power, training his body, and using the martial arts he learned from his grandfather wasn't enough, he needed money, information, subordinates, and more skills to accomplish his mission.
He wasn't here to pretend and be low-key, with that he won't be taken seriously, losing time to gather what he needed, he trusted that his age was his best ally as it would be more suspicious if an adult appeared and asked them to form part of their group.
They will surely ask why a kid like him appeared, with a mature mentality coupled with a proper martial art system, Zhou Heng is already counting on that, he is sure that they will find his background in the Gray Way Orphanage.
But he isn't concerned, after all, at most, they will find the other lie that he created when he was four years, that an unknown man gave him advice and his behavior at the orphanage was weird.
Probably they will think of a background for the unknown man, as a soldier from the knight district, that took care of Zhou Heng while he was in the orphanage.
He just needed to continue that lie with the revenge one, no matter how suspicious they are, they will never think that he is scheming since he was four years old, also that the possibility of them being so interested in him was small due to his young age.
As for the security of Alisa, he taught her a few martial arts and was sure that he won't bring her troubles, after all, the moment someone wanted to blackmail or threaten him would surely be when he is older, at that moment he will have his means to protect her.
''Why do you need something like that?'' Bern frowned.
''... That old man told me that my family was destroyed by that noble... He didn't want to help me so I will take care of him.'' Zhou Heng answered in a low voice filled with hatred.
''Noble...?'' Bern frowned more.
''Yes, a pig viscount.'' With disdain in his eyes and clenched fist, Zhou Heng said.
''... All right, whatever, Anthony take him down and give him a place.'' When he heard that the enemy was a viscount his frown lessened, it wasn't a small fry but it wasn't a truly dangerous enemy.
Even if he appreciated the kid's guts, it didn't mean that he will take care of him and his revenge, Bern was just worried that the enemies the kid has, would bring trouble to him and his people.
He also wasn't expecting him to survive to fulfill his revenge, people die here at any time, and all of them have their ambitions, dreams, and resentments, but only the lucky ones reach them.
Maybe the kid can survive, but will he survive to see it? He has his own plans, laughing at himself, he brought a jar to his mouth and started drinking without paying more attention to Zhou Heng.
''All rightly! come here cub, the 'Den' is waiting for you!'' The tall man, Anthony, jumped from the chair and signaled at Zhou Heng toward the stairs.
Today was truly interesting, this new kid will relieve his boredom for a while, he thought.
Zhou Heng nodded and followed him, walking toward the stair.
''Boy, do you have a name?'' Before he reached the first step, Bern suddenly asked.
''... Heng.'' He said.
''No idea what that means, but well, you better pray for luck, Heng.'' Bern said and finished his food before walking outside the tent.
Zhou Heng nodded and walked down the stairs.
''Aiyo, I met you earlier but why do you act more polite with him than with me? That isn't good lad, being partial here isn't safe you know?'' Anthony said with a dramatic face.
''... Nice to meet you, Anthony, I know your name but not his.'' Zhou Heng was grateful that the person he meet first was him, after all, if it wasn't for his eccentric behavior, things won't be as smooth as they are.
''Oh! You are right, point for me, come, come, you will like the place.'' With big steps, Anthony went down the stair and opened the door.
On the other side of the door what Zhou Heng saw was the reason he selected this group as his destination.
''Hehe, that is a good face, welcome to the 'Den' little Heng, it's impressive, Am I Right?'' As a showman with open arms, Anthony signaled.
What Zhou Heng saw, was an Arena.